Electric-light socket.



T. A. C. BOTH.

ELECTRIC LIGHT SOCKET.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.29.1912.

1,175,590. Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1, Z

PM .1, 44 v L4 M fly/3v WIN/E8858 T. A. c. BOT-H. ELECTRIC LlGHT SOCKET.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29,1912.

- 1. 1. ?5 5 9Q. Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- i AWDHNEY tm ran eras ea. in.

TONJES AUGUSCE CARL BOTH, OF MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE ZEE SOCKET AND MFG. (30., OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSA- cHUsn'rrs.

ELECTRIC-LIGHT SOCKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 14., 1916.

Application filed March 29, 1912. Serial No. 687,179.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TONJES AUoUsr CARL Born, a citizen of the vFnited States, and a resident of Malden, in the. county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric-Light Sockets, of which the following is a specification. taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the same.

My invention relates to electric light sockets, regardless of any particular switch mechanism.

It further relates to certain details of construction of the electric light socket which will be more fully hereinafter described in the specification and pointed out in the claims. I

I have shown a switch mechanism in an electric light socket to which it is particularly adapted owing to its simplicity, the few parts. and the small space occupied by them. \Vhen so used it makes a quick make and a quick break of the electric current, without arcing-upon the rotation of the driving member ineither direction. I have fiurthermore shown my electric light socket equipped with my improved switch mechanism. but, it is, of course, to be distinctly understood that any .torm of switch mechanism may be used in the socket, for my invention. as tothe socket, is not to be limited in any particular by the mechanical I i'novcment shown, though I preferably though not necessarily use the mechanical movement shown as the switch mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings, showing illustrative embodiments of my invention and in which the same reference numerals refer to similar parts in theseveral figuresFigurc l is a side elevation of my electric light socket. the shell and cap being shown in section for purposes of clearer illustration. To show one of the marked advantages of my electric light socket. I have. for convenience in description, shown also in Fig. l a husk in section with which my electric light socket is particularly adapted to be used: Fig. is a longitudinal vertical section substantially on the line of Fig. 1. looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 3 is a transverse horizontal section substantially on the line S 3 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows: Fig. 4 is a plan view of the insulatmodification. a part of the structure being shown in section and part broken away for purposes of clearer illustration; Fig. 10 1s a detail sectional view on an enlarged scale,

showing the preferred means for rotatively connecting the shell to the cap; Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the preferred form of positioning member when such a member is carried by the cap rather than by the nipple or similar member: Fig. 1'2 is a detail fragmentary side elevation. partly brokeir away, showing one means of connecting the screw shell. or other holder .t'or a consuming device of Fig. 5) to the insulating member which is usually porcelain; Fig. 13 is a plan view of the screw shell shown in Fig. ll; Fig. 14 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of the screw shell illustrated in Figs.

9, 12 and 13: and Fig. 15. is a detail fragmentary section of a modified form of positioning means.

In the illustrative embodiments of my invention shown in the drawings, 1 is a cap of my electric light socket, which partly protects the insulating member 3 when the parts are assembled, Figs. 1 and 2. This insulating member may be formed in various ways.

Preferably, I form it out ota plurality of cooperating insulating members, preferably two, 4 and 5, which have their meeting surfaces (5, (3 extending substantially longitudinally of the electric light socket. though my invention is not to be confined to the number of members. In the head of the insulating member 3, I provide engaging members 8, 8, one or more such engaging members may be used but preferably I use more than one such engaging member, as for example, iour of them as shown in Fig. 4 though it is to be understood that this number may be varied without departing from my invention. These engaging members I preferably. though not necessarily. form on tho-insulating member 3. usually though not necessarily, as indentations in the porcelain.

though it is to understood that my invention is not to. be limited to this form or this manner of providing the insulating member 3- with surfaces to cooperate with the cooperating positioning member. This cooperating positioning member may be formed of form may be, carried by or formed in the insulating member 3. Preferably this positioning'member 10 is formed as a ring and provided with one or more fingers 11, 11,

Fig. 11, to cooperate with the engaging surfaces 'carried'by the insulating member 3, Figs. 1, 2,3 and 9. I may, however, form the lower end of the nipple 96 as a positioning member and provide it with one or more arms, lugs or teeth 97 to cooperate with the engaging members 8 carried by the insulat- "In Fig. v member 10vsecuredjto the cap 15 by bending ing member 3. The positioning member 10 is secured to the cap 1 111 any suitable manner. In one form of my invention, the screw threadednipple 12 is provided with. a shoulder 13 against which is firmly and non-i'otatably held both the cap land the positioning member 10.by upsetting the end 1 1 of the nipple.

9 1' have shown the positioning in a portion 16 of the cap 1.5 so as to firmly and non-rotatably hold the positioning member to the cap.

The cap 1 is also provided with any suitable cooperating surface, to coiiperate with a similar one carried by the shell 17 of .the socket, the cooperating surfaces being such as to permit free relative rotation between the shell and cap. but which will not permit the shell to be disengaged from the can by an ordinary or light pull longitudinally of the socket. By way of example, I have shown the cap 1 provided with an interior channel or groove 18. Figs. .1 and 10. having the lip 19 over whichis sprung a cooperating member carried-by the shell 17. By way of example. but to ajhich my invention is not to be limited. I provide this shell 17 with one or more rivets or pins 20. preferably two. so that by compressing the shell 17 slightly, theipins or rivets 20 can be forced by the lip 19 of the groove, Fig. 10, when the resiliency of the shell 17 will assert itself and cause the pins or rivets 20 to become seatedgin the channel or groove 18 of the cap. vWhile I have shown this arrangem'ent as the preferredconstruction, it is to be, distinctly understood, of course, that any similar locking surfaces between the capand shell which will permit the free rotation of the shell with relation to the cap and prevent the disengagement of the two would come within the terms of myinvention as defined by the claims.

It is now quite common to mount or install electric light sockets in members which serve to conceal very largely the socket and which are given various shapes and contours, many of which are extremely artistic. In the art these surrounded members are known as husks. It has been found in practice to be quite burdensome and to increase the cost of installation, particularly the labor item, to mount 'the sockets within these husks. That portion of my invention which relates to the electric light socket will be advantageous even though the socket is not used with a husk, but it is particularly adapted for use with such husks whatever their shape or configuration may be. I have shown, therefore. for purposes of illustration a husk 21, Fig. 1, which is secured on the arm 22 of the fixture in any suitable manner, preferably by being held on the arm by screwing up the nipple 12 so that the husk will be secured to the arm In so securing the husk. the cap 1 and the positioning member 10'are separated from the rest of the socket. After the husk 21 and the cap 1 have been secured on the arm 22 the key 23 is then threaded through the opening 24 of the husk. Thenthe upper portion of the shell 17 is slightly compressed so that the lugs or pins 20 are snapped over the lip 19.0f the groove 18 of the cap. At the same time, one or more of the fingers 11 of the positioning member 10 and the engaging members 8 on the insulating member 3 will be brought into engagement, or if in joining the parts they do not immediately engage, a slight rotation of the insulating member 3 will cause the fingers 11 to engage with the engaging members'tl carried by the insulating member and will then prevent further relative rotation between the insulating member 3 and the cap 1 in an obvious manner. The engagement of these fingers 11 with the coiiperating members 8, 8 in the insulating member will also at the same time prevent the relative rotation of the shell 17 with relation to the cap 1 either by the key 23 which extendsthrough the slot 25 in the shell 17 or bv the cooperating surfaces 67 and (38 to be hereinafter described. By the same means, the husk 21, if one is used, will also be prevented from relative rotation in relation either to the support 22 or to the shell 17. It is, of course, to be understood that the lugs'or teeth 97 on the end of the nipple Fig. 15 will perform the same function as the ring 10 withits arms 11, the lugs or teeth 97 cooperating with the engaging member or members 8 on the insulating masses cap thereby save the exonly o the material of such inut of. the labor of assembling it addition to the advantages the insulating lining in the cap above forth, it is found in practice that e caps have to be rcplated after a. certain Jerval of time varying in different localis and ditlerent uses to which" the sockets iloyed. (in such replating the usual lining is removed and in again the socket, it is often omitted carelessness or some such cause. the replated socket and cap are attaoiied together and reshipped or given out to "workmen, there is no means of telling vihether or not such sockets are complete and ready for use without taking each cap of each shell. In the prior constructions on the market the socket is incomplete without this liningin the cap and cannot be used.

v Consequently, when the lining of the cap is omitted, there are often expensive delays loss of time until a complete socket is obtained or a new lining for the cap. With my invention, in which no lining is ever used, no such delays can occur. The usual insulation 28 in the shell 17 is employed.

lrly mechanical movement includes a rodriving member 27 and a reciprocating resilient driven member 28. This driving member may be formed in various ways, though preferably I form it from a stamping, Fig. 3, having a head'29 and an arbor 30 which may be swagcd or rounded'in any suitable manner to form the arbor of the driving member 27. At the same time that the head-is stamped or formed, I preferably, though not necessarily, provide it with a e -shaped slot 31, Fig. 6, forming a lip 32 and also provide it with inclined grooves 33, 3%, i 7, which have their lowest portions at 95, 95 and their highest portions at and 36 which points are substantially in I the same plane as the intermediate or central no 'tion 37 of the head 29 which is sublv flat. The blank is bent back upon to form. a crank 38 and so shaped as care head 29 at an angle to the arbor as shown in Fig. 3. hile I preferably form the head crank and arbor integral, my invcntionis not to be confined to this construction.

The resilient driven member may be :iozuned in. various ways. Preferably I stamp it from sheet metal and bend it back upon itself at The driven member at this point preferably rounded or archeducy. f the two arms 40 and ll, inc latter toward its end, is prefiy cut a 'ay, the very'end of the arm 41 :eing preferably, though not necessarily,

at an angle to make a nose 42. This l 4. 031%. nose is the portion which directly cooperates vn in Fig. to insure reater stren th.

P. I") i 21:

with the head 29 of the driving member 27. It normally rests on either the portion 85 or 36 of the inclined groove 38 and 3%. By rotating the driving member 27 in either direction, this nose piece 4-2 vill be caused to move up either the inclined groove 38 or 34., depending upon the direction of rotation of the arbor 27, until such time as the nose piece reaches the highest point of the two inclined grooves surfaces and '36. When the nose piece reaches the surfaces 35 and 36, it is no longer confined by the grooves 33 and 34C and will immediately with a quick and positive snap, fly back across the flat surface 37 to the opposite surface or 36 as the case may be.

This is true whichever groove 33 or 3% it takes to ascend to the points 35 and 36. In other words, the travel of'the nose piece is always up one of the grooves 33 or 3% and always back to the surface 35 or 36, as the case may be, by way of the surface 37.

The crank 38 and the inclination of the head 29 serves to compress the resilient driven member 28 by. forcing the nose piece 4-2 toward the arm until such time as the rotation of the driving member brings the .point 36 directly in contact with the nose piece when the nose piece will instantly fly back to the position designated 35, l 7, and in doing so it causes the entire resilient driven member 28 to move laterally with a quick and positive snap. I have so shown the mechanical movement in the drawing. An ordinaryinsulating key is attached in any suitable manner to the driving member 27. When so used the resilicnt driven member serves to make a quick make and a quick break of the electric current, without arcing, upon the rotation of the driving member in either direction.

The insulating member 3 of the electric light socket illustrated is, as previously noted, preferably formed of two complemeutary insulating sections l and Each of these sections is provided with a meeting .face 6. and a strain relief comorisin the divergent and circuitous passages 43, 43 which meet at the bridge ll, which point serves to separate the two feed wires and cause them to follow their respective curved passages 43, 45 and 43, 4-5. Each pair of passages 43 and 4-5 join each other near the periphery of the insulating section 3. By making these curved passages 43 and 45 in the insulating members, I form a strain relief intcgralwith the insulating portion of the socket, and one'which transmits substantially all the strain which may be thrown upon the feed wires to the walls of the different circuitous passages. In wiring the socket one of the feed wires (not shown) is attached to the binding screw 46 on the binding plate 47, while the other feed wire (not shown) follows the other circuitous 33 and 3% which is on the passage 43. 45 and is connected to the binding. post 48 carried by the binding plate 4%). Each of the insulating sections 4 and 5 is molded to form an interior chamber 50. I

the insulating button 23 in either direction,

This chamber is extended through one of the insulating sections, as for example 4, to permit ready molding of the parts withoutcross holes and to permit the ready insertion of the resilient driven member 28. I also preferably form a groove 51 in one of the walls of the recess 50 to permit the free rotation of the lip 32 of the head 29 of the driven .member 2?. Zach ot' the insulating members 4 and 5 is also provided with a semi-circular groove "3 to form a bearing for the arbor 3t) ot'the driving member 27, and with a boss 53 near their lower ends to cooperate with and hold the screw shell or other holding d'evice 54.

The upper end 55 of the screw shell is cut away to receive the bosses of the different insulating sections 4 and 5 which fit within the upper portion of the screw shell 54 and beneath the head 56 of the screw shell. Fig. In :ISSQlllllllIlfl the two sections 4- and 5, these bosses 53, 53 are readily insorted from ditl'erent sides through the cut out portions 55. 55. The screw shell is also provided with a contact member which extends up into the interior chamber 50. This contact member may be variously formed;

' Preferably l term it by cutting the head 56 of the screw shell so as to form an integral arm 57 which is bent up substantially at right angles to the l aid 56 of the screw shell and forms one contact to coiiperate with the resilient driven member 28 of the mechanical movement or switch mechanism. The other contact 58, Figs. 2 and 3, is, also mounted within the chamber 50 and separated from the shell contact 57. This contact 58 may be mounted in various ways. Preferably it is carried bv a binding plate-47 on which is mounted ,the binding screw 46. I- have shown in the preferred construction the contact and binding-plate formed of one integral piece otfmetal, though my invention is notto be confined to this structure. This bindingplate 4T.is held to the insulating section 5, andthe two sections 4 and 5, are

at the same secured together, by the screw or other suitable securing means (31. The center contact (32 is mounted on the insulating section 3 in any suitable manner, such as by the binding post 49 carrying the binding screw 48. This binding post 49- is secured to the insulating section 4 by means of the screw ()5 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, which screw also serves as an additional means to hold the two sections 4 and 5 together. v

In wiring the socket, the two feed wires are forced down the throat (36 formed by the complementary openings in the two sections 4 and 5 until the feed wires are separated by two cross bars 82 and St.

the msulating sections 92, 92 are provided with lugs 84, 84 and S5, 85, the lugs 85, 85

the bridge 44 when each wire will be threaded through its own circuitous channel 43 and 45', as previously described.

Upon rotating the driving member 27 by the resilient driven member 28, in the manner previously described at length, will be caused to reciprocate back and forthin the recess 50 with a quick snap to make a quick make and a quick break of the electrical current,

without arcing, by bridging the gap or inter-'- otherwise located, without departing from' my invention. I then provide the socketshell 17 with some suitable engaging member or members to cooperate wlth the cosection 3. One form of cooperating members is the bent in ribs 68 of the socket shell which cooperate with the cut out portions 67 and will prevent the relative rotation of the socket shell with relation to the insulating section 3. By this arrangement,-I not only prevent the relative rotation of the socket shell and the insulating section 3 but prevent the socket shell from cutting into or' otherwise -marring the key 23 which is usually formed of some insulating material.-

These cooperating surfaces, however, between the socket shell and the insulating sections 3 may be omitted 1t desired,-in which case the key 23 itself would prevent the rel-' ative rotation of the socket shell and the insulating section 3. v

In some instances, I provide the difierent insulating sections with an integral throat 91, one half of the throat being mounted upon each of the sections 92, 9:2, Fig. 9. By this arrangement I avoid the necessity of using the ordinary insulating bushing, a portion ofwhich extends in the ordinary 1 socket through the top of the cap. The feed wires (not shown) are threaded through the throat 91 an are separated by the bridge .72, when they-will follow their respective'cin .cuitous passages 43, 45, and be connected to their respective binding posts, as in .the other form. Inthis form of my invention I use a somewhat different form of screw shell 79. This screw shell is cut away at and 81, leaving the head of the screw shell formed of The lower end of being provided with slots 86, 86 and the lugs 84, 84 with slots 87, 532". The lugs 84 and are duplicates, one lug 8-1 and one lug 85 being mounted on each section 92. In assem- I operating member carried by the insulating bling the insulating section, Fig. 9, and the screw shell 79, the respective cross bars 82 and 83 are caused to slide into their respective slots 86, S6 and 87, 87 by sliding the insulating member with relation to the screw shell transversely to the longitudinal axis of the socket, Figs. 9 and 12. To prevent the screw shell from sliding out of the slots 86, 86 and 87, 87, I use any suitable locking 'means to keep them in their assembled position. One such locking. means is to provide one of the insulating sections with a groove or depression 89 within which is forced some of the metal of the cross bar 82 after the screw shell 79 has been assembled. This metal of the bar will then form a teat 90, F ig. 12, which will prevent any accidental or unintentional separation of the insulating section 7 and the screw shell 79.

Having thus described this invention in connection with the several illustrative em bodiments thereof to the details of which I do not desire to be limited, what is claimed as new and what it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:

1. An electric light socket comprising contacts; a switch mechanism including an opcrating member rotatable about its longitudinal axis and provided with a single inclined operating surface and a sliding resilient member operated by said operating member to slide bodily at substantially right angles to the longitudinal axis of said operating member to bridge said contacts; and conductors electrically connected to said contacts.

2. An electric light socket comprising contacts; a switch mechanism including an operating member rotatable about its longitudinal axis and provided with a single inclined operating surface, and a sliding resilient member directly contacting with the retary operating member and operated thereby to slide bodily at substantially right angles to the longitudinal axis of the rotary member so as to bridge said contacts; and conductors electrically connected to said contacts.

3. An electric light socket comprising contacts; a switch mechanism including a support, a rotary operating member provided with a single inclined operating surface, and a spring bent back on itself forming two arms, one of which directly cooperates with the single inclined operating surface and the other of which slides upon the support transversely to the longitudinal axis of the rotary operating member to bridge said contacts; and conductors electrically connected to said contacts.

4:. An electric light socket comprising con-. tacts; a switch mechanism including a rotary operating member provided with. a bent portion and a single inclined surface carried by the bent portion and a spring member directly cooperating with the single inclined operating surface and operated thereby to bridge said contacts; and conductors electrically connected to said contacts.

5. An electric light socket con'iprising contacts; a switch mechanism including an operating rotary member provided with a single inclined operating surface having one or more grooves in its face and a resilient member-provided with a surface to cooperate with the groove or grooves during a. portion of the rotation of the driving memher, said resilient member being operated by said operating member to bridge said contacts; and conductors electrically connected to said contacts.

6. An electric' light socket comprising contacts; a switch mechanism including a rotary operating member provided with a single inclined operating surface having two inclined grooves extending part way around the single operating surface of the operating member and a resilient member provided with a surface to cooperate with the inclined grooves. said resilient member being movable to bridge said contacts; and conductors electrically connected to said contacts.

7. An electric light socket comprising contacts and switch mechanism including an operating member provided with a bent portion and an inclined head carried by the bent portion, said head having a single operating surface for a spring driven member, and a spring driven member having a surface that directly cooperates with the single operating surface of the head, said driven member being movable to bridge said contacts; and conductors electrically connected to said contacts.

8. An-electric light socket comprising contacts; a switch mechanism including a rotary operating member provided with a single inclined operating surface, a resilient member cooperating with the single inclined operating surface, and means to guide the resilient member so that it will move bodily at substantially right angles to the axis of the rotary member to bridge said contacts; and conductors electrically connected to said contacts.

9r An article of manufacture for an electric light socket comprising an integral.

switch operating member stamped from sheet metal and provided with an arbor and a single operating head mounted at an angle to the arbor and gnrovided with one or more inclined grooves.

10. In electric light sockets the combina tion of a metallic unlined cap provided with one or more downwardly extending locking arms. a shell, an insulating body member mounted on and protruding from the top of the shell and extending adjacent to the under surface of the cap and provided-with one or more recesses to cooperate with the locking arm or arms of the cap.

11. In electric light sockets, the combine tion. of a metallic unlined cap provided with one or more downwardly extending locking arms, a shell, an'insulating body member mounted on and protruding from the top of the shell and extending adjacent to the under surface of the cap and provided with one or more recesses to cooperate with the locking arm or arms of the cap, and means toconnect the cap and shell together and permit free rotation of the shell with relation to the cap.

12. In an electric light socket, the combination of a key, an insulating member-provided with one or more out out portions, a socket shell provided with a key slot, one or both of'the edges ofthe key slot being-bent in to engage with the cut out portion or por-. tions on the insulating member to preventrelative rotation between the socket shell and insulating member and cutting or ma rring the key.

13. In electric light sockets, the combination of an uninsulated metallic cap, a

metallic shell to cooperate with the cap and provided with the-usual insulation, an insulating body member adapted to seat in the metallic shell and to protrude from the top or the shell nearly to the underside of the metallic cap to act as an insulation for the unlined cap. said insulating body member provided withtortuous passages for the v feed wires.

14. In electric light sockets, the combination of two fixed spaced contacts, a rotary driving member provided with inclined head hating a. single operating snr face, and a sliding resilient conducting mere.- ber operated by the single operating surface of the head to bridge the gap between i the two-fixedspaced contacts on one of its sliding movements and to disconnect the fixed contacts on the other of its sliding movements to make. a quick make or a quick break of the current upon the rotation of the driving member in either direction.

15. In an electric light socket, the combination of an insulating member provided with a plurality of spaced downwardly extending lugs extending at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the insulating memberea ch spaced lug provided with grooves also extending at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the insulating member and a shell provided-with a plurality of spaced portions to be received in the groovesoi? the. spaced lugs.

16. In an electrlc light socket, the combination oi: an insulating member provided with a plurality of'spaced downwardly 

